I hear what you're saying there, but the same could have been said about drafting a 3-4 ILB (Willis) with the 11th pick. I think the way this draft will fall, one of those top OT should slide to us and I think it would be a mistake to not plug the gap at RT with one of them.

I think it's Raji or best OT available. I wouldn't really have a problem with either of those as it would fill a need. I think Raji is the pick but taking someone to play RT would be okay with me. If I had to guess:

Have no problem with Tony Richardson as FB. I would prefer Weaver or Norris but Richardson makes sense with Raye as the OC. Not realloy worried about his age. Look at Lorenzo Neal. Plus with many teams going away from traditional fullbacks SF should be able to pluck a solid FB, that fits the system, from free agency if Richardson calls it quits after this season.

Highest I would take a running back is third. I think SF has greater needs and looking at the core of backs, around the league, a lot of them are later round picks. I would like SF to get a Sproles/Bradshaw type back. Never hurts to add more speed to this offense but not sure that is the direction they are going.

what about signing Julius Peppers? I know that he wants to play in a 3-4, so why don't we give him a try? There can never be too many pass rushers on a team. And i don't care if he is turning 29, he is a FREAK, he will probably be good for at least six more years.

Also, with Raji...I really like him, but does he truly possess 3-4 NT skills? and is 10 too high to draft a NT? Wilfork was drafted at 21, and he is one of the top NTs in the league. This will also be 2 DTs taken in the first round the last 2 years, which does not bode well for the fans anyways. Maybe we can trade down a few???

He's going to want to be the highest paid player in the league. Also, as a full time 4-3 DE, can he even cover people in the passing game?

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Originally Posted by edgrenade

Also, with Raji...I really like him, but does he truly possess 3-4 NT skills? and is 10 too high to draft a NT? Wilfork was drafted at 21, and he is one of the top NTs in the league. This will also be 2 DTs taken in the first round the last 2 years, which does not bode well for the fans anyways. Maybe we can trade down a few???

Is he a true 3-4 NT? I would say he's built for it and he seemed fine all week at the Senior Bowl. Two DTs in two years isn't a big deal to me. How would that not bode well for the fans? Also, trading down is hard to do nowadays, with such a high pick. Not many teams want to give up draft picks to move up only to pay someone a lot of money.

[quote=Brent;1475057]He's going to want to be the highest paid player in the league. Also, as a full time 4-3 DE, can he even cover people in the passing game?[quote]

Wasn't Manny a 4-3 end in college before we turned him into a cover linebacker? I think if you're athletic enough, and have fluid hips, you can be taught the technique of covering tight ends and runningbacks. Especially since the most athletic tight end he'll see is in practice.

[quote=king2am;1475197][quote=Brent;1475057]He's going to want to be the highest paid player in the league. Also, as a full time 4-3 DE, can he even cover people in the passing game?

Quote:

Wasn't Manny a 4-3 end in college before we turned him into a cover linebacker? I think if you're athletic enough, and have fluid hips, you can be taught the technique of covering tight ends and runningbacks. Especially since the most athletic tight end he'll see is in practice.

Well he was meant to be 3-4 LB from the start. Not having near the bulk as his counterpart, Manny Lawson. He's athletic enough to be anywhere on the field

he told Matt Barrows, getting another running back to help Gore. McCloughan is enamored with big backs, which is something he had in previous stops in Green Bay with Dorsey Levens and in Seattle with Shaun Alexander. The 49ers considered four running backs in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, but McCloughan insisted on Thomas Clayton because he was the only one over 220 pounds. McCloughan said on radio he would like to have a bigger, younger, "down hill" runner to back up Gore.

Barrows brought up Andre Brown and Rasheed Jennings as two possible targets. Checking free agency not many guys that fit that profile and if they do they got issues i.e Ricky Williams and LaMont Jordan. He doesn't fit under the profile but I wouldn't mind bringing Cal boy J.J. Arrington home. He could fill the KR role for the 49ers and be a change of pace back for Gore.

Quote:

McCloughan also said the team had money which means they will likely make one sizeable signing in free agency. So who could that be? And who should the 49ers make a run at first? Nnamdi Asomugha is an intriguing name; his signing could prompt Walt Harris or even Nate Clements to move to free safety. Also, McCloughan believes drafting a shut down corner is a complete crap shoot, and corners will be at an even higher premium with the NFL's increased reliance on the pass. Is he the guy?

Thoughts? We know Namdi is looking for more money then Clements. That would be one highly paid secondary. I am surprised to see Namdi name linked to SF, since they have Clements.

Also Scott's new mock is out:http://www.draftcountdown.com/sub/Mock-Draft-A.php
10. Mark Sanchez
I expect this board to be in full riot mode if this is still the projected pick by mid-March.
43. Phil Loadholt, OT
Also damn Green Bay for switching to a 3-4. More comp. for my bandwagon pick of Brown.

Harris could move to secondary for a year or so and be effective, but we would need an upgrade next year. No way I want Clements to move to FS, as he is paid WAAAAYYY too much to go to lesser roll, and is a great, physical corner, which Namdi would compliment with his quicker skill set.

Though I love Peppers, if he and Namdi are available for around the same money, Namdi makes far more sense for the Niners.

If Scotty Mac took Clayton because he was a bigger back, then he needs a chance. I think they will look to the Draft for an ideal big back, and if they don;t come away with one, Clayton will be the backup plan.

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Nnambi and Clements would give us the best CB combo in the league. Period. They're both top 10 cover corners.

That's a lot of money in one position. I'd be ecstatic if that were to happen for us making the games against the Cards that much better. That and it would allow us to get a little more aggressive on the front end. But do we really think this is probable?

I'm not sure.

Either way, you will hear no complaints from this guy if we land Namdi or Peppers.

Honestly, I'm not even one bit worried about salary cap issues. Our front office has proven that they understand how to structure contracts now to keep us from falling into cap hell again. How many years in a row have we had $20M+ in space going into free agency? And we've added high priced FAs in Clements/Smith/Lewis etc. If we want Nnamdi, we'll fit him in nicely.

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The Brian Sabean sig is no more. I disagreed with you on so many levels. And then you went out and built a dynasty. I am lame.

Eh as much as I love Nnamdi I think they would be better served spending on Atogwe. Harris isnt a good enough tackler to move to FS. As good as they are at managing the cap at some point spending will come back to haunt you (ask the Redskins)